I have a 2000 Eclipse and the tyranny is going into Limp Mode or Safe Mode. When I take off from a stop it shifts into 3rd gear and will not up shift or down shift. A Mitsubishi dealer in Greenwood.In told me it needed a tyranny so I had 1 put in and it is doing the same thing.

could be neutral safty swicth but you are defintly in limp mode that where i always start and 97 percent time finish

Are you saying you can not move shifter while driving or it will not shift out of 3rd gear? If just the fact it will not from 3rd gear sounds like it could be in safe mode. Is check engine light on?

sounds like it is stuck in winter mode

sounds like the transmission is in limp home mode where it won't shift out of second gear. this is a fail safe mode. If the check engine light is on too then its probably not seeing one of the speed sensors in the transmission. Just need to have the codes pulled in the transmission control module.

Sounds like your transmission is in limp mode. This is a fault mode in which the transmission either loses electrical power or the PCM deactivates all of the electronics. The transmission will default to max line pressure. The driver will have Reverse and 3rd, with manual 2nd available by putting the gearshift in 2 or 1 (doesn't matter). 1st, 4th, and TCC lockup will not be available. It will not hurt the car to drive it like this for short periods, but use manual 2nd to get the car moving, and be aware that the trans will generate more heat than normal while operating in limp-home mode due to increased torque converter slippage during 2nd gear starts and no lockup in 3rd gear.

The other from what you described, trans shifts 2nd to 3rd by itself in D or OD and locks the converter : ShiftA solenoid failed. Easy fix in the pan. Or a wiring problem from PCM to trans.. or PCM.

Thank you for using fixya and have your Safari scanned for the DTC codes that would indicate what issues your transmission is having to put you in to limp mode.

Your transmission has gone in to a limp home mode or fail safe mode, trans computer has locked third gear to prevent any more damage. Needs a diagnostic scan to confirm fault code could disconnect battery for 10 mins and drive to see if problem reaccures. Trans computer common to fail.

i have this same problem with my jeep. i am going to change the shift solenoid out.

• No 3rd or 4th gear: “3-4” clutches are worn out. R&R. The car is safe to drive (in 2) until you can get it fixed.
• Trans shifts into gear harshly, car feels sluggish off the line, No 1st, 4th or TCC lockup available, Manual 2nd, 3rd and Reverse are only available gears, CEL is on: Transmission is either in limp-home mode or has lost electrical power. If there are lots of error codes in the PCM, check the under hood fuse that powers the transmission, and if it pops again, look for a short in that circuit like an O2 sensor harness touching exhaust. Otherwise, check PCM codes for a particular fault in the transmission causing the PCM to put it in limp-home mode.
• No 1st or 4th available; trans shifts 2nd to 3rd by itself in D or OD and locks the converter : Shift A solenoid failed. Easy fix in the pan. Or a wiring problem from PCM to trans.. or PCM.

Check to see if your transmission is in the limp mode, which would only give you 2nd, 3rd and reverse gears. No 1st or 4th gear.

the trans computer has seen a problem possible a bad sensor, or an internal problem, and puts it into a safe mode, or limp home mode , it wont shift , it will stay in 3rd gear, this way this reduces the possibility of further damage trans damage, when you turn the ignition off and back on it resets the tcm, my advice is to take it to your local dealer, they can diag your trans as they know the product, i dont advise pep boys, or discount auto parts.

It sounds like it is in limp mode, this means that there is a transmission problem. The trans will go into limp mode to protect from further damage. You need to take it to a trans shop to have diagnostic test